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ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED??

Consider This

Is there really such a thing as "eternal security of the believer"? This subject has caused much disagreement in the church for centuries, and will continue, creating confusion and concern for many Christians. I don't think what I have to say in my articles will convince all people, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, what I say may get some who do not believe in "Once Saved, Always Saved" to seriously consider what I consider to be the Truth.

Those who believe in "falling away" accuse those of us who believe in "eternal security" of promoting "cheap grace." This is utterly ridiculous! The phrase "cheap grace" is NOT Biblical, and to me it hovers almost on the form of blasphemy.
Calling God's grace "cheap" is an absolute denial of the wonderful and amazing grace of Almighty God. To me, what it implies is that too small a price has been paid on our behalf, and friend, that is NOT so! God's grace must be, and IS, absolutely free . . . without any price whatsoever on man's part, and it certainly is NOT cheap! Jesus paid the complete price on that cross! And on the Father's part the price He paid was infinite (never ending, unlimited, countless, boundless). How dare any man to think that his meager works can play ANY part in either earning OR keeping his salvation! It is man's untrue and fabricated ideas that cheapens grace, devaluing this awesome GIFT of Almighty God (Eph.2:8-9; Rom.6:23) to the level of human effort.

What about "falling from grace"? This involves the same big mistake. Since our works have NOTHING to do with earning God's grace in the first place, there is absolutely NOTHING we could ever do that would cause us to no longer deserve it and thus "fall" from it. Our works DO determine reward or lack of reward for Christian service and punishment for unbelievers on Judgment Day (Ps.28:4; Pro.24:12; Isa.59:18; Jer.17:10; 25:14; 32:19; Lam.3:64; Eze.7:8-9; 18:30; Mat.16:27; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Tim.4:14; 1 Pet.1:17; Rev.18:6; 20:12-13; 22:12). BUT . . . our works do NOT determine our salvation, because salvation comes ONLY by God's grace. The big problem is being confused about grace and works.

Consider the following:

• #1 We must clearly understand that God's grace and our works can never mix. Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (KJV) . . . Salvation CANNOT be a part by grace and a part by works!
• #2 We must be absolutely sure that works have NOTHING to do with salvation. Period. Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV) . . . The Bible is very clear! Believing such Scriptures, evangelicals firmly declare that we CANNOT earn or deserve (merit) salvation in any way. Eternal life must be received as a free gift of God's grace, or we CANNOT have it.
• #3 Salvation CANNOT be purchased even in part by us, because it requires payment of the penalty for sin . . . and that is a payment we CANNOT make. Some think that doing many good deeds will make up for the one bad deed. NOT true. Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (KJV)
• #4 If salvation from the penalty of breaking God's laws CANNOT be earned by good deeds, then it CANNOT be lost by bad deeds. Our works play NO part in either earning or keeping salvation. If this were true, those who reached Heaven could boast that Christ saved them, but by their good lives, they kept their salvation. God would then be robbed of having all the glory in eternity.
• #5 Salvation can be given to us by God as a free gift only if the penalty has been fully paid. We have violated His infinite Justice, and that requires an infinite penalty. We are finite beings and could never pay it: we would be separated from God for eternity. Therefore God, in His tremendous love and grace, through the virgin birth, became a Man so that He could pay the sin debt for the entire world's population!

Christ's triumphant cry came from the cross, "It is finished!" This is an accounting term, meaning that the sin debt had been paid in full. Justice had been satisfied by full payment of its penalty, and therefore God could "be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom 3:26). On that basis alone, God offers pardon and eternal life as a free gift. He will NOT force it upon anyone . . . for then it would not be a gift. And it would not be just to pardon a person who rejects God's righteous basis for pardon by offering a totally hopeless and inadequate payment instead, or tries to offer his works even as "partial payment."

What is salvation? It is the full pardon from the penalty of ALL sin, past, present or future, by the merciful grace of Almighty God. And He also adds a tremendous extra . . . eternal life with Him in His heavenly Home! Cults deny this Truth, rejecting salvation by grace and insisting that it must be earned by a person's good works. They wrongly accuse evangelicals of teaching that all we need to do is to SAY we believe in Christ and then we can live as we please, in the worst of sins, and yet still be assured of Heaven. This is utterly ridiculous! Evangelicals do NOT teach that at all! BUT . . . the same accusation is made by those who believe in "falling away" heresy! They say that the "once saved, always saved" doctrine encourages a person to live in sin, because if we know we cannot be lost, there is no reason to fear living in sin. I beg to disagree with their belief. It is just the opposite . . . love for the One who saved us is the greatest motive for us to live a holy life! And surely the greater the salvation one has received, the more love and gratitude there will be. In my estimation, to know I am secure for eternity gives me a much better motive for living a good life than the fear of losing my salvation if I sin!

Those who believe in "falling from grace" are right that good works CANNOT earn salvation, yet they teach that salvation is KEPT by good works. Doesn't make any sense to me. According to them, a person gets saved by God's grace (NOT good works), but after they are saved, they say you can lose your salvation by bad works. Good works keeping salvation is almost the same error as to say that good works earn salvation. It denies God's grace to say that once I have been saved by grace . . . then I must keep myself saved by my works.

Such teaching, says Hebrews 6:4-9, rather than glorifying Christ, holds Him up to shame and ridicule before the world once again for two reasons: IF a TRUE child of God could lose their salvation, then (1) Christ would have to be crucified again . . . to save us again; and (2) He would be ridiculed for dying to purchase a salvation but not making adequate provision to preserve it . . . for giving a priceless gift to those who would inevitably lose it. If Christ's dying in our place for our sins and rising again was not sufficient to keep us saved, then He has utterly wasted His time. If we could not live a good enough life to EARN salvation, HOW can we ever live a good enough life to KEEP it?? For man to make the salvation that Jesus secured for us be dependent upon our works, is totally ridiculous and utmost folly.

Think about this: the "falling away" doctrine makes us worse off after we are saved than before. At least before conversion we can get saved. But after we are saved and have lost our salvation (IF that were possible), we CANNOT get saved again, but are lost forever. Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV)

Those . . . once enlightened . . . A TRUE Christian is someone who is once for all illuminated by the Word of God (Eph. 5:26-27). Heb.6:2 “doctrine of baptism” speaks of the purification or cleansing (washing). This Passage most likely originated the application of the term "illumination" (enlightened) to baptism in later times. Illumination is NOT supposed to be separated from baptism. "Heretics have baptism, but they are NOT illuminated (enlightened). They are baptized in body, but their soul is NOT enlightened. Simon the sorcerer was ‘water baptized’, but NOT illuminated. (baptized by the Holy Spirit). Millions fall into this category today. To be "enlightened" in this verse means knowledge of the Word of Truth, and means the same as "illuminated," in Heb.10:32.

Compare the following Passages.

Enlightened: Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (KJV) Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (KJV)
Illuminated: Hebrews 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; (KJV)
Knowledge of the Truth: 1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (KJV) 2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (KJV) Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (KJV)

Tasted of the heavenly gift . . . experienced for themselves. "The heavenly gift" is Christ Jesus, given by the Father and revealed by the illuminative Word written and preached. This Unequaled Gift bestows peace in the remission of sins; and is the Bestower of the Gift of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16) . . . after which we are made partakers of the Holy Ghost. God KNOWS a person’s heart and will NEVER give the Holy Spirit to anyone who are not sincere, or who are doubters, unbelievers or hypocrites.

Tasted the good word of God . . . is different from "tasted of the heavenly gift." We do not yet enjoy ALL the fullness of Christ, we have only a taste of Him, but TRUE believers may taste the whole Word of God . . . God's "good word of promise." We CAN experience the goodness of God's Word and the powers of the world to come. We are enlightened to the world to come, to Christ, the Bread of Life, answers to faith and made partakers of the Holy Ghost, to God’s love, which is the first-fruit of the Spirit. Amazing things given to us by an Amazing God!

The world to come is in direct opposition to the course of this world. It is totally confused and chaotic because the Almighty TRUE Creator God is not in it and is not its end. By our faith, TRUE Christians make the world to come a present reality, even though it is just a tiny foretaste of the perfect future to come. If we set our affections on things above, and not on things on Earth, and to look for and expect Christ's Coming, we taste of the world to come for it already exists in the redeemed, and will pass into a fully realized fact at Christ's Coming (Col. 3:4).

Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (KJV) . . . If a person thinks the "law" or works of any kind can save or keep them, they abandon their faith, thus turning their back on the grace of God. They are fallen from grace . . . meaning an entire and willful apostasy . . . of their own choosing! If this happens, it is impossible to bring them back to repentance again, because they again crucify the Son of God and expose Him to public shame.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (KJV)

Hebrews 10:29-31 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? [30] For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (KJV)

2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (KJV) . . . Better . . . is opposed to worse. It would be better if they had never known the right way to live than to know it and then reject the holy commandment that was given to them. These verses refer to PROFESSORS (people who CLAIM to be Christians, but instead are nothing but hypocrites), not POSSESSORS of Christ (true born again believers)!

Those referred to here were enlightened to salvation through Christ. They tasted and they were convicted by the Holy Spirit, but they fell away because they were never saved in the first place. Heb.6:9 makes this clear.

Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. (KJV)

IF a person is TRULY saved, they may stray, they may backslide, BUT they WILL come back to God. No one who is TRULY saved can ever lose their salvation (John 1:12-13; 10:27-29).

These verses tell me that it is impossible for a saved person to be lost. It is impossible . . . . If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance. IF a person were saved, then could be lost, it would be impossible for that person to ever be saved again. I think that verse 9 is the key to this Passage.

Other Interpretations

Many commentators completely avoid this chapter! There are many interpretations on this Passage. One interpretation says that the Christians mentioned here are Christians who have lost their salvation, and many people hold this position. This Passage is used by those who do not believe Once Saved, Always Saved. There are many people who are not sure about their salvation and that being the case, they cannot enjoy it.

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (KJV)

If anyone has placed their trust in Christ Jesus as their Saviour, they are saved! The main thing is, NOT how much faith they have . . . but to Whom is that faith directed. People turn to this Passage of Scripture more than any other if they deny that we have a sure salvation which cannot be lost and that the believer is safe in Christ. I simply cannot go along with a Christian being able to lose their salvation. I absolutely believe Once Saved, Always Saved!

I believe that we have a SURE salvation because Scripture is very definite on this point, in MANY places! See: Rom.8:1,33-39. NOTHING can separate us from the love of God once we are “in Christ” . . . NOTHING!!! (1 Thes.4:16; 1 Pet.5:14). HOW can anyone have peace if they think they can lose their salvation? They can't!

John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and my Father are one. (KJV)

NO one can take us away from God IF we are TRULY saved, TRULY born again into His family! There are millions who PROFESS to be God’s children, but are NOT! God KNOWS the difference! You CANNOT fool God. Don’t even try! You can fool the multitudes around you, but God knows ALL things, even our every thought (Eze.11:5). God will NEVER give a hypocrite or doubter His Spirit, whereas every TRUE child of God has the Holy Spirit within (John 14:16; Rom.8:9). I CANNOT accept the interpretation that the people in Hebrews 6:4-9 were once saved and had lost their salvation.

Another interpretation is that people may fall away. There is only a possibility that this might happen. These people do not say that it happens, only that it might be possible.

A third interpretation states that there really is no “if” in the Greek. It is a participle and they say it should be translated “having fallen away.” So, these people say that the Passage speaks only of those who profess to be “Christians” and that they are not TRUE believers. Many well known scholars such as: Matthew Henry, F. W. Grant, J. N. Darby and C. I. Scofield hold this view.

A forth interpretation is that he is describing saved people . . . they have been enlightened, they have tasted of the heavenly gift, they have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and they have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come.

The text reveals that he is speaking of rewards which are the result of salvation. In verse 6 he says, “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance” . . . NOT to salvation, but to repentance. Repentance is something that God has asked believers to do. These believe the writer of Hebrews is talking about the fruit of salvation, NOT about the root of salvation. Heb.6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

He is speaking of the fruit of the Christian’s life and the reward that comes to him as the result. The whole tone of this Passage is that he is warning them of the possibility of losing their REWARD.

1 Cor. 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (KJV)

Hebrews 6:7-8 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: [8] But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (KJV)

The people who go with this interpretation say that IF the believer’s life brings forth fruit, it receives blessing from God; IF it brings forth thorns and briers, it is rejected.
When the apostle Paul wrote to Titus, a young preacher, he dealt with the matter of works: Good works do NOT have anything to do with salvation (Isa. 64:6), BUT when you become a child of God through faith in Christ, works are extremely important! Your works prove IF you are saved! How you live your life is proof that you have (or don’t have) Christ in your heart.

There are examples in Scripture of men who “fell away.” David fell (2 Sam.11:2-25), but he was NOT lost; Peter fell (Mat.26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:17-18; 18:25-27), but he was NOT lost. Both David and Peter suffered great loss, but they were NOT lost. . . . This interpretation says that "if" is not in the text. It should be “having fallen away,” or “then fell away.” They did NOT lose salvation . . . they lost the "joy of salvation" (Ps.51:12). Have you ever lost the "joy of your salvation"? I have. But praise God, I have NOT, nor will I ever, lose my salvation!

Hebrews 6:4 declares, "If [not when] they shall fall away... it is impossible (v.4)...to renew them again unto repentance." That "falling away" is supposed is clear (v.9): "But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak" So "falling away" does not "accompany salvation." The writer is showing us that IF we could lose our salvation, we could never get it back without Christ dying again upon the cross. This is foolish! He would have to die an infinite number of times (every time every person who was once saved sinned and was lost and wanted to be "saved again"). Those who reject "once saved, always saved," can only replace it with, "once lost, always lost!"

John assures us, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know [present knowledge] that ye have [present possession] eternal life..." (1 Jn 5:13). To call it eternal life, if the person who had it could lose it and suffer eternal death, would be a mockery. On the contrary, eternal life is linked with the Promise that a TRUE child of God CANNOT perish . . . which is a crystal clear assurance of "eternal security" or "once saved, always saved." John 3:16 promises those who believe in Christ Jesus that they "should not perish, but have everlasting life." Everlasting = eternal, never ending, for ever!

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (KJV) John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (KJV) . . . IF we after having received eternal life, could lose it and perish in Hell, would make Christ a liar . . . and He is NOT a liar!!!

If sin causes us to lose salvation, what kind of sin? or how much sin does it take? There is absolutely NO verse in the Bible that tells us, and neither can those who deny Once Saved, Always Saved give an answer! Just the opposite! 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV) . . . It is clear here that apparently any and all sin can be forgiven.

Have you ever heard those who teach the "falling away" heresy ever say they got "saved again"? NO! They confessed their sin and were forgiven! 1 John 1:10 tells us that EVERY Christian sins. So, what does God do? Instead of sin causing us to lose our salvation, God chastens us because of that sin (Hebrews 12:3-11), because we are His beloved children and He loves us. If sin caused us to stop being God's children, He would have no one to chastise, because everyone sins! BUT He "scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."Chastening (correcting us) is a sign that we are God's children, and NOT that we have lost our salvation! "if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

Some heretics teach that a person must be baptized to be saved; others teach that you must "speak in tongues." BOTH of these are forms of salvation by works. Some people lack assurance of salvation because they haven't "spoken in tongues," others are confident they are saved because they THINK that they have. Both are like those who say, "Lord, Lord, have we not...in thy name done many wonderful works?" (Mat. 7:21-23) These people rely on their works to prove they are saved, instead of on God's awesome grace. Jesus has never said, nor will He ever say: "You were once saved but lost your salvation" He says, "I never knew you." These people were NEVER saved to start with!

Consider this: Those who believe in "falling away" say a professing Christian who has denied the faith and is living in unrepentant sin, has "fallen from grace" and has "lost his salvation." But . . . on the other hand, those who believe in "eternal security," would say of this same person that probably Christ "never knew him" . . . he was never a Christian. We must give the comfort and assurance of God's Holy Word to those who are truly saved; BUT . . . we must not give false and non-Biblical comfort to anyone who SAY that they are saved (hypocrites) but all the while deny with their lives (living willingly and knowingly in unrepentant sin) what they profess with their lips. We all know people like this! They go to church, they say "I'm a Christian" but they disregard what the Bible says about sin!

Are we saved by our works? Absolutely NOT! In I Cor.3:12-15 every Christian's works are tried by fire at the "judgment seat of Christ" before which "we must all appear" (2 Cor. 5:10). Good works of believers bring rewards, but a lack of them does NOT cause loss of salvation! The person who does not even have one good work (all of his works are burned up) is still "saved; yet so as by fire" (1 Cor 3:15). Good works done in and for the Name of Jesus bring rewards for us, while lack of service to Christ means loss of rewards we could have had.

Do we on the basis of "once saved, always saved," encourage Christians to "sin that grace may abound"? (Rom.6:1-2). "God forbid!" We must NEVER offer any comfort or assurance to those living in sin. We must NEVER tell them "You are OK because you once made a "decision for Christ." Millions make a decision for Christ one day . . . and a day, week or month later, they turn their back on the amazing grace of God and faith in Jesus (Mat.13:5-7, 20-22). IF a person is not willing to live a life for Christ now, HOW can they say that they were sincere when they supposedly made a commitment to Him in the past??? Almighty God knows ALL things! You CANNOT fool Him now or ever! Don't even try! He knows if you were sincere about your decision for Christ, your commitment to Him! Millions are NOT!

WHAT is the answer? 2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (KJV)

Can we have hope? Can we have confidence? YES!!! Our confidence for eternity rests in His unchanging love and amazing grace and the adequate provision of God in Christ Jesus . . . NEVER in our worth or works, just Christ!! Only when we really understand this can we have real peace with God. Only then can we truly love Him and live for Him out of gratitude for the eternal life He has given to us as a free gift of His grace . . . a gift He will not take back and which He makes certain can never be lost!"

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV)
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (KJV)

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (KJV) . . . He promised it! And He has never broken any Promise He has ever made!

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ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED

Election Confusion

Eternal Security, Consider This

Eternal Security Assurance

Eternal Security By The Grace of God

Eternal Security Quick Review

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Eternal Security True

Eternal Security vs Conditional Security

In Christ Once, In Christ For Ever

Once Saved, Always Saved

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